Fencepost



June 23, 1925.

R. V. FUNK FENCEPOST Filed Oct. 20, 1922 all/Oma- Patented June 23,1925.

UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT V. FUNK, OF CHICAGO HEIGHTS, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, IBY MESNEASSIGN- MENTS, TO INLAND STEEL COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ACORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

FENCEPOST.

Application filed October 20, 1922. Serial No. 595,789.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Bonner V. Furnr. a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago Heights, in the county of Cook and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inFenceposts, of which the following is a specification.

My invention concerns fence posts, more especially those of metallicform adapted to be driven or forced downwardly into the ground and whenfirmly anchored in place to support the fence proper usually onecomposed of a plurality of wires.

In accordance with the principles of this invention the metal posts,desirably but'not necessarily of T-shape in cross-section, are rolledduring their production in such a manner as to provide on one facethereof spaced lugs or ears integral or unitary with the post for thepurpose of supporting and preventing sagging or displacement of thelongitudinal wires of the fence. one or more of such lugs or projectionsat the lower portion of the post also assisting in holding in place abrace or anchor plate riveted thereto, whereby such plate is held inposition by the united or joint holding function of the lug or lugs andthe one or more rivets.

Thus the ears or lugs on the posts do 30 double duty in aiding infastening the holding plate in position and in supporting the fencewires after the post has been anchored in the earth.

To enable those skilled in this art to have a full and completeunderstanding of the invention and the various structural and functionaladvantages accruing therefrom, in the accompanying drawing forming apart of this specification I have illustrated a preferred and desirableembodiment of the invention, like reference characters referring to thesame parts throughout the several views.

In this drawing:

Figure l is a broken face view of the i1nproved post showing a portionof it embedded in the round and showing the manner of attachlng one ofthe fence wires thereto;

Figure 2 is a side view of the construction shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a horizontal section on line 3-3. of Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a enlar ed horizontal crosssection on line 4-4 of igure 1.

Referring to the drawing it will be seen that the metal post 11 is ofsubstantially T-shape in horizontal cross-section and is sharpened atits lower end by be velling olf parts of the head of the T at 12-12 onopposite sides of its stem whereby to facilitate the driving or sinkingof the post into the ground, the stem however being uncut to assist inmaintaining the post in proper position and alignment with the companionones of the row particularly during the starting or initiation of thedriving or sinklng operation.

On itsfront face such post has a plurality or series ofvertically-spaced lugs or ears 13 on the tops of which the horizontal orlongitudinal fence wires 14 rest being held thereon against dislodgmentby fastening or securing wires 15 which extend around the fence wire andpart way around the post.

Only one such fence -wire has been shown with its associated securingwire but of course a plurality of each of these is used with each of theposts.

Near its lower end the post is equipped with a brace or anchor plate 16preferably but not necessarily of semi-circular shape with its curvededge disposed downwardly and its top straight edge arranged horizontallywhereby to render more easy the entrance of such plate into the earthunder the action of the force or blows applied to the top of the post.

.Obviously, during such forcible sinking of the post into the ground agreat strain is imposed on such plate tending to dislodge and displaceit.

Unless it is very firmly secured to the post it will become unfastenedand be rendered useless especially when the post is forced into somekinds of ground which resists its introduction and descent insubstantial manner.

If the plate is merely riveted to the flanges of the post, in some casesthe rivets are sheared off thus rendering the plate unserviceable andworthless.

Accordingly, in this improved and novel post the plate holding andsecuring action of the rivets is supplemented by one or more of suchlugs or cars of the post.

To this end, the plate is riveted at 17 17 against the head of the T oragainst the face of the post by a pair of rivets extended throughregistering holes in the plate and in the opposite flan es of the postunitedly formingthe head 0 the T.

This plate or fiat stay member is also substantially centrallyaperturedv to receive one of the lugs 13 which by coaction with themargin of the hole of the plate accommo dating it reinforces the holdingand fastenin action of the rivets.

Jue to the fact that such lug or projection is integral with the postthere is little daner of its being sheared off during the post drivingoperatlon. I

Thus the presence of such unitary ears on the post afford firm andreliable means for preserving the fence wires in place and for aiding inholding the anchor plate in position especially during the post drivingperformance. I

The invention is not limited and restricted to the precise and exactdetails of construction shown and described but is susceptible of avariety of embodiments varying more or less in mechanical structure butall incorporating the fundamental principles of coninto the'ground,comprising in combination,- ,a metal the ground, sald lugs beingdesigned to co- 1 operate with the fence wires to sup ort' the latter,and means in addition to the ugs for rivetingthe plate to the post.

2. A metal fence post adapted to be driven into the ground, comprisingin combination, a metal post T-shape in cross-section having its stemfull width its entire length and its flanges oppositely beveled tofacilitatethe entrance of the post into the ground, said post havinglugs integral therewith outstanding therefrom and spaced apartlengthwise the post, and a substantially semicircular anchor-plateriveted to a face of said post with its curved edge downward, said platehaving a substantially central aperture receiving one of said lugs toassist in holding the plate in position on the post during the sinkingof the latter into the ground, one or more of said lugs being designedto cooperate with the fence wire or wires to support the latter.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal.

ROBERT v. FUNK. m

one of said lugs

